St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-24
FAITH A STIMULUS TO EFFORT.
A Text From Hebrews Forcibly
Treated by DR.. IOVeS.

Rev. H. c. Hovey D. D., preached at the
Second Congregational church from the text
Hebrews XIII, by faith Noah, being warned
of God of things not seen as yet moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house, by the which he condemnn ed the world
and became heir Of the righteousness which
is by faith.
Dr. Hovey said: offer now no speculations
as to the great ark itself, nor ingenious theo-
res as to the reality and extent of the deluge.
1t is entirely proper to ponder such lessons
but let us fix our thoughts on single truth
namely, that faith should be an incentive to
effort. Many think it is an opiate and puts
people to sleep, whereas it is just the other
way. Noah was by no means Il visionary
dreamer, but a most useful and practical
man.
First-Faith gives US foresight of the fu-
ture. 1t lifts the veil. It clarifies mysteries.
When Noah, the father OF all ship carpenters.
began to build his gigantic vessel, that never
had any modern rival, unless it be the Great
Eastern, he had no models to copy after, and
no experience to GO by. He had no weather
records to refer to, nor any basis of scientific
calculation. Yet he toied on for 100 years.
because his fixed faith gave shape to his lite
The system under which we live is such q
web of conflicting forces, and it is so hard to
tell what remote consequences may follow
trivial causes, that we are liable to discour-
agement. We get tired of walking in the
dark. Hence the value set on those dear
bought lessons of experience that furnish tue
substratum of modern civilization. Suppose
that, besides these, we have the sure word of
our Maker as 10 the future; how inspiritng
TO those that accept it. Faith thus enlighteus
the understanding and becomes in turn a
source of knowledge. wise man will gladly
enjoy all the light he can get Gather all the
iGlers and vagabonds on earth aud you will
not find one OF them that has faith in God.
Faith keeps men from sinking into the slums,
oDd tends make them Qlllpent. worthy and
progressive.
Second-Faith gives assurance of success
Every timber of that enormous ark was laid
in hope; every spike was driven home with
zeal Picture that old, old man, 500 years
old, at work amid his logs OF gopher wood,
irving to construct vessel that was to sail
on a wider sea than that Columbus crossed.
Mockers gather about him, but he needs
them not. Who cannot see that the moment
a doubt enters his brave heart he must at
once lay down his tools? Any kind or degree
of skepticism would have been fatal to his en-
terprise. We have no proof that he hestated
for an instant; and he seems to have gone
right along with his task till it was done. So
with our own work; as soon as we begin to
begin to doubt we lose courage. The mere
fact of doubling breeds encouragement
where none would otherwise have existed.
But strong faith looks for success. Yet it is
different from presumption. There is always
a reason for whatever comes to pass. If one
other is dying of consumption, there is a
cause for it. Nothing ever just happens
Faith is perso al. If we believe words. creeds,
promises, il is because of the authority that
backs them up. Hence faith in the eternal
God drives away the dark clouds and lets US
look up to sunny sky and on u radiant fu-
ture.
Third-Faith identifies its possessor with
Christ The man who is confident that he is
on the Lords side will be full of activity and
enthusiasm. Noah knew, somehow, that he
was forging an important link in the long
chain of redemption. Perhaps he learned
about the coming Messiah from Enoch who
was his great grandfather and only the
seventh from Adam. Some say that he only
had he basis of faith, but it looks very much
as if he had the thing itself. He built thai
ancient ark for Christ just as really as we
build our modern churches for Christ Moth
ing on earth can be more sensible than tt
take God at His word. Skepticism is barren
while faith gathers in the ripe harvest
Everybody has heard of the three young mer
who prayed behind the haystack at Williams
town Mass. And one said TO the other tw o
.swe are little men; but we must make our in
fluence felt around the globe" And they